Shadow of the Storm Lord
Page 6
Akori took a step back in horror, grabbing for the Shield of Sekhmet that lay on the floor.
“Boy. Idiot boy. Did you really think you could defeat me?” Set bellowed.
The room filled with sulphurous smoke, making Akori cough and his eyes water. Set stepped out of the fire, the floor smouldering under his tread. He loomed before Akori like a vengeful genie, with Oba’s limp form at his feet.
Akori brandished his khopesh. It was all he could think to do.
“Get ready to meet your Gods!” Set roared.
He raised a huge fist.
Akori knew he could not possibly survive. Even the Shield of Sekhmet could not protect him from such a blow.
Set’s fist was coming down on him.
“Akori, your Gods are already with you,” said a voice from behind.
Light filled the chamber – dazzling light, bright as the noonday sun.
Set reeled back, blinded and roaring in confusion. Akori turned around, awed. He knew that voice.
There, surrounded by glory, was Ra, God of the Sun. Beside him stood jackal-headed Anubis, and the beautiful Goddess Isis, smiling her gentle smile. Lion-headed Sekhmet was roaring out a greeting. Beside her stood Horus, restored to his full power, radiating light that should have been blinding. And yet Akori could see clearly.
All five of the good Gods who Akori had freed were here!
“You did not fail us when we needed you most, Akori,” Horus said. “Nor shall we fail you in your hour of need.”
“Fools! I shall destroy you all!” Set raged. “I am unvanquishable! I am Set!”
“You cannot win against us, dark brother,” said Isis softly. “We stand united. Our powers are as one.”
“Begone!” roared Sekhmet. “You have lost the battle!”
“All your darkness cannot protect you from the powers of light,” said Ra, his fists burning with golden energy.
“Wherever you run,” growled jackal-headed Anubis, “and wherever you hide, I shall find you. Go! Crawl back to the Underworld, and do not trouble humanity again!”
Set grabbed Oba’s body from the floor. To Akori’s surprise, Oba moaned faintly. He was still alive!
“Enjoy your victory!” Set hissed. “It will be short-lived, I promise you that! We will return!”
Carrying Oba with him, Set jumped into the flames. The fire flared up hot and red, spewing foul-smelling black smoke. Then they were gone, to the Underworld, and the room was silent once more.
“Thank you!” Akori burst out. “I thought I was dead for certain!”
“After all you have done for us,” said Ra, “we could hardly stand back and do nothing.”
The other Gods nodded agreement. Together they walked back to the courtyard. Behind them, amazed servants followed, pointing at the Gods. Some raised their voices in songs of worship, and many fell to their knees and wept with joy.
Akori threw open the doors to the courtyard, letting the bright sun flood in. Manu came running up, but stopped in his tracks when he saw the Gods standing there.
“We won, Manu!” Akori said. “Oba is gone. Set is defeated. It’s over!”
Manu tried to speak, but couldn’t. He looked from one God to another, his eyes filled with amazement. Akori grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Manu. I owe you my life.”
In the middle of the courtyard, Ebe the huge wildcat was rolling on her back, enjoying the sunshine. When she noticed Akori, she rolled over. Very slowly, she stood up, and began walking on her hind legs. Her body started to shrink, becoming more human, until she was a woman with a cat’s head. Akori and Manu looked at each other, then walked over to her. She raised a hand in greeting.
“Hello, old friends.”
“Are you still Ebe?” Akori asked, doubtfully.
“Not any more,” she purred. “That dream is over.”
“Then who are you?” Akori said.
“Men know me as the Goddess Bast,” she explained. “Horus asked me to take on a human form, in order to help you on your quest. So I became Ebe, and waited in the Temple of Horus until the day you came.”
Manu looked puzzled. “But how could you have known Akori was going to come to the Temple?”
“It was his destiny,” said Bast simply. “Horus told me so.”
“You saved our lives,” Manu said.
“And you saved mine!” replied Bast. “While I was human, the dangers I faced were real.”
“I’ll miss Ebe,” sighed Akori. “She was a good friend.”
“And she always will be,” Bast said with a smile. “Never doubt it. Now, listen to Horus. He has something to tell you.”
All eyes turned to Horus, who raised his arms to the sky.
“Hail, Akori!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the palace grounds. “Hail the new Pharaoh! Let Egypt know peace and prosperity once more. Evil has been defeated and banished to the Underworld!”
A mighty cheer went up. Soldiers on the walls threw down their spears and roared Akori’s name. All the Gods bowed their heads in respect.
Akori felt very strange. Was all this really for him?
“It is time to live out your destiny,” Horus told him. “Remember what was said in the Prophecy of the Sphinx? A hero of the wheatfields will rule all Egypt. That hero is you, Akori.”
A few days had passed. From all over Egypt, people had been pouring into the city of Waset. All the taverns and inns were full, and some people were camping out on the rooftops and in the streets, but nobody complained. Their new Pharaoh was to be crowned today.
A lucky few thousand had been able to get into the palace courtyard, to witness the procession setting off to the Karnak Temple. Many noble families were surprised to find the very best seats of all had been given to ordinary people – fishermen, cobblers, even farmers – by order of the new Pharaoh. So the nobles had to be content with standing around while the commoners sat in comfort, drinking to the Pharaoh’s health with barley beer every ten minutes. None of the noblemen complained about it though. Evil had finally been banished, and it was time to celebrate.
Out of sight of the crowds, in a room just off the courtyard, Akori was pacing up and down, dressed in a plain white robe. The aged High Priest entered, and Akori embraced him fondly.
“I’m so glad you could come!” he said. “It was such a long way!”
The High Priest waved his concern aside. “With all respect, Akori, hush. I would not have missed this day for anything.”
“I do have something to ask of you,” Akori said. “Would you stay here, with me, at the palace? I need a High Priest here, and I can’t think of anyone better than you.”
“I am honoured!” the High Priest said. “But I fear I am too old for such a position. My life is reaching its end, and your reign is about to begin.” He thought for a moment. “But I do believe I know just the right person for the job. Manu, are you here?”
Manu stepped out of the shadows. “I am.”
“You have shown great bravery,” the High Priest said. “Much greater, I admit, than I ever expected. I hereby declare your apprenticeship at an end. You are now a fully ordained Priest of Horus. Serve well.”
Akori and Manu looked at one another with delight.
“And I strongly recommend,” the High Priest continued, his blind eyes twinkling, “that Manu be appointed as High Priest to the Pharaoh himself.”
“I’m only too happy to accept your recommendation!” Akori said with a smile.
Manu beamed with delight. “Thank you. Thank you. It would be an honour.” Then he frowned. “Of course if I am to be your High Priest, I will need some more scrolls.”
Akori laughed loudly. “Manu, as my priest you shall have all the scrolls your heart desires!”
Manu chuckled, then he peeked round a pillar into the courtyard. “It’s a beautiful day, you know.”
Akori nodded. “It is.”
“There’s quite a crowd out there.”
&
nbsp; “Well,” said Akori with a nervous sigh, “I suppose we’d better go and meet them. Coming?”
A huge cheer went up from the crowd as Akori and Manu emerged into the sunlight. The people waved and threw garlands of flowers down at them. Songs were sung, Akori’s name was chanted, and the good Gods were praised. All across the city, the sound of celebration rose up into the clear blue sky.
Clear and blue it was, all across the dome of heaven...all except for one small black cloud near the horizon, which all the bright sunshine could not quite banish.
Also available:
ATTACK OF THE SCORPION RIDERS
For his first quest, Akori must risk his life, fighting giant scorpions and a deadly Snake Goddess. But will his terrifying battle end in victory?
ISBN 9781409521051
EPUB ISBN 9781409554776
KINDLE ISBN 9781409554783
CURSE OF THE DEMON DOG
The dead are stalking the living and Akori must send them back to their graves. But dog-headed Am-Heh the Hunter has sworn to destroy Akori…and no one has ever escaped his fearsome jaws.
ISBN 9781409521068
EPUB ISBN 9781409554790
KINDLE ISBN 9781409554806
BATTLE OF THE CROCODILE KING
Akori must brave the crocodile-infested waters of the Nile to battle two evil Gods – the terrifying Crocodile King, and his gruesome wife, the Frog Goddess – both hungry for his blood...
ISBN 9781409521075
EPUB ISBN 9781409554813
KINDLE ISBN 9781409554820
LAIR OF THE WINGED MONSTER
Vicious vultures and deadly beasts lie in wait for Akori as he searches the desert for the Hidden Fortress of Fire – and the Goddess imprisoned there. Will he survive or will this quest be his last…?
ISBN 9781409521082
EPUB ISBN 9781409554837
KINDLE ISBN 9781409554844
THERE’S A WHOLE WORLD OF GODS AND MONSTERS WAITING TO BE EXPLORED AT...
Check out all the game cards online and work out which one YOU’LL need to beat your friends
Discover exclusive new games to play with your collectable cards
Investigate an interactive map of ancient Egypt
Get tips on how to write top-secret messages in hieroglyphics
Find out the goriest facts and grossest info on ancient Egypt
Download cool guides to the gods, amazing Egyptian make-and-do activities, plus loads more!
LOG ON NOW!
WWW.QUESTSOFTHEGODS.CO.UK